By 1963, the Batman titles were dancing on the edge of oblivion.   Clearly, putting the Masked Manhunter in a science-fiction milieu had failed to grab readers---which vindicated Bat-editor Jack Schiff, who had argued, insightfully, that SF ran contrary to the core concept of the Batman as a sleuth who operated from the shadows.  As a “reward” for his literary instincts having been proved right,…